Episode 620. The Culprit Was Lee Hoyeon.

The magic tower lobby was completely empty.

I waited for the elevator, arms crossed, continuing my thoughts.

‘First, I need to show Sol the magic tools… then I’ll have to talk about the black pillars.’

Rebecca and Im Sol were central to the plan to destroy the black pillars. Since those two were the best at using Hell’s magic, their roles were that much more important.

Ting-

[First floor.]

The elevator doors opened, and I uncrossed my arms and stepped inside.

Seeing that our Professor wasn’t answering calls, it seemed like she was lost in her magic research. I clearly told her to start destroying the black pillars today, but I hope she didn’t forget because she was too focused on her magic research?

“First, I’ll see Sol’s face… maybe I need to go to America too?”

I thought about my schedule after meeting Im Sol. If the heroines destroy the black pillars, I’ll have that much more breathing room. I might need to stop by the Wizard Association for the magic tool supply.

Ting-

‘If I have time left, maybe destroying the black pillars around America wouldn’t be bad. It seems like it would be effective in its own way.’

The final episode was just around the corner. I got off the elevator, contemplating how to move efficiently in the remaining time.

Im Sol’s laboratory, always quiet whenever I visited. Seeing as there were no teaching assistants, Im Sol seemed to be in her office.

“Professor Im Sol-?”

Just in case, I approached the office using polite speech, but as expected, it was unnecessary worry. Inside the office, Im Sol was frowning, glaring at a magic circle.

“Professor. Your student has arrived.”

“Huh? Ah, my student is here?”

As soon as Im Sol saw me, she folded up the magic circle she had been glaring at. I liked that she focused on me more than magic, but it would be nice if she’d answer her calls too.

I opened my mouth, looking at Im Sol.

“Yes. Since the Professor wasn’t answering calls, I came directly. We agreed to start destroying the black pillars today, didn’t we? Why aren’t you answering?”

“Huh? Did we?”

Im Sol gathered her magic and smiled. She didn’t seem very interested in what I was saying, so she sat on the reception sofa and gestured with her chin towards the opposite seat. Meaning, ‘Don’t just stand there, sit down quickly.’

I sat opposite Im Sol and frowned. Surely she didn’t actually forget, did she?

“Sol-ah. Did you really forget about destroying the black pillars?”

“No. I’m meeting the student council president and other students this afternoon. My student came all the way here because you thought I might have forgotten. Aren’t you underestimating your teacher a bit?”

Im Sol chuckled, looked at me, and took a sip of hot chocolate. Watching her, the kettle and teacup clinked, and a cup of coffee was placed before me.

“Ah… Thank goodness.”

I genuinely felt relieved, holding the coffee cup.

“Seeing you relieved, you really came just for that, didn’t you?”

“No. I have other business. But… are you really going out dressed like that?”

I opened my mouth, looking at Im Sol’s outfit. A pink oversized plain t-shirt and black leggings. A blue robe was draped over her shoulders, slipping off. Every time I see that outfit, I think, even if it’s okay for wearing around the office, isn’t it a bit too casual for going out? She’s a professor at the Academy, she should have some dignity.

“What’s wrong with it? It’s super comfortable. Even if you can’t tell from the outside, it has high magic resistance, so it’s actually quite expensive.”

Im Sol pulled at her clothes here and there, tilting her head. Since she didn’t see the problem, I couldn’t point it out.

“That’s not the problem….”

I scanned Im Sol from head to toe. I could still picture her in the suit she wore when she went to the Wizard Association. Our Professor is really pretty when she makes an effort, why is she wasting that beauty?

“Last time I saw, you had a lot of other clothes, why don’t you wear them? Should I buy you some as a gift?”

“Ahyoung and Yeji bought me a lot. But what can I do if anything else is uncomfortable?”

“… Hmm.”

Im Sol isn’t someone who considers others’ opinions or dignity. If she says it’s uncomfortable, I have nothing more to say.

“Anyway, I’m relieved…. Please handle the black pillar matter yourself, Professor. I have another reason for coming. I came because there’s something I want to ask.”

“Something you want to ask?”

“I’m trying to make a magic tool.”

I briefly explained the magic tool I was making this time. To properly recognize and awaken Hell’s magic in this world, one must come into contact with their own magic. That is the restriction imposed on this world. Although Lucifer’s corpse, containing Hell’s magic, was fragmented and scattered across the globe, the number is too small, so most ability users haven’t even been able to touch it. That’s why diseases like Hell’s magic addiction appear. If Hell’s monsters were to cover the Earth, the most at risk would be ordinary people and weaker ability users. To reduce the sacrifices of those people, Hell’s magic needs to be supplied more.

I explained the composition of the magic circle in as much detail as possible.

“A magic tool that continuously supplies Hell’s magic… sounds good. Ahyoung was also complaining about headaches because of this recently. I think it’ll work out well?”

Im Sol’s eyes sparkled. This is the reaction she shows when she sees a novel and good magic by her standards. If it passed Im Sol’s standards, the magic itself could be considered top-tier.

“I don’t plan on selling it to make money. I intend to mass-produce it and supply it cheaply. Does it seem okay to you, Professor?”

“Of course. Did you come all this way just to show me?”

“Yes. Still, discussing it with you is better than doing it alone.”

“Heh. Cough, hmm.”

Im Sol’s lips curved slightly upwards before she hastily composed her expression. If she was happy to be acknowledged, she could just say so.

“How do you plan to supply the magic tools? The Iris Guild?”

“The Iris Guild is a bit busy. Couldn’t we just ask the President of the Wizard Association for help?”

Arthur, the President of the Wizard Association. I still have many debts to collect from that guy.

Hearing my words, Im Sol tilted her head.

“I heard Arthur is incredibly busy these days.”

“Because of the Hell Gate?”

“That too, and what was it? I heard he’s looking for an artifact with an immense amount of magic.”

“… Ah, yes. Is that so?”

An artifact with an immense amount of magic. I didn’t particularly want to know what it was.

“Right. He hid it so well, he didn’t even show me. I wanted to see it in person at least once. Anyway, he doesn’t have time these days because he’s searching for that artifact.”

“Aha, hahahaha….”

“Still, maybe he’ll make time if his student and I ask? Right. How are you going to mass-produce this magic tool? The magic is good, but it requires my student’s magic, doesn’t it?”

Listening to Im Sol, I tightly gripped my spatial pouch. Because I had brought [Infinite Entropy] to explain the mass production of the magic tool.

“… Cough. Fortunately, I acquired an artifact with a lot of magic.”

In a short time, countless words flashed through my mind, but I decided not to lie. I carefully placed the spatial pouch on the table. I couldn’t leave out [Infinite Entropy] when explaining the magic tool I developed. Besides, I was planning to ask Im Sol to look at the magic circle engraved on [Infinite Entropy], so I couldn’t hide it completely.

I immediately took out [Infinite Entropy]. Seeing the holy grail that came out of the pouch, Im Sol’s eyes widened.

“What is this?”

“This is Infinite Entropy.”

“Infinite Entropy… Huh? Hmm? That’s definitely the name of the artifact Arthur was looking for….”

“Yes. That’s the one. Remember when we raided Aiden’s residence before? I happened to grab it then. I’m sorry!”

No other words were needed. Lee Hoyeon quickly bowed his head. He figured he needed Im Sol’s forgiveness first if she was going to help him.

However, Im Sol’s next words were different from Lee Hoyeon’s expectations.

“As expected of my student. Taking care of your own share directly. There was no need for me to prepare anything for you.”

“Huh?”

*

Behind the Iris Guild building, a wide clearing surrounded by forest.

A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, and birds chirped in the distance. Though hidden by trees and a barrier from the outside, the clearing was surprisingly spacious inside. A cool breeze blew through the lush trees.

Alice, tucking her golden hair, which fluttered in the wind, behind her ear, looked down at her smartwatch.

‘It shouldn’t be this quiet….’

The problem the Iris Guild was currently concerned about was, naturally, the Hell Gate that had appeared smack dab in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. The ominous darkness was expanding, and people going missing during operations were increasing. Some media outlets invited experts to emphasize the danger daily, but strangely, the public showed no interest.

“This makes no sense unless it’s national media manipulation… have these lunatics cast some kind of mass hypnosis?”

Looking at the absurd phenomenon, the first person Alice thought of was Maestro. However, even with the Iris Guild’s informants deployed, no useful information came back.

‘Hoyeon has a plan he mentioned, but… it’s not 100 percent certain.’

Alice wasn’t planning on just waiting for Lee Hoyeon to solve everything. Just as they had benefited from his image, the Iris Guild needed to reciprocate. Of course, even setting aside that business relationship, she had the intention to help Lee Hoyeon…

“Alice. Calling them lunatics isn’t good. Such words lack dignity. And regarding the informants, I was thinking of asking Rebecca this time. Rebecca apparently has the ability to discern Maestro’s brainwashing.”

“… Unnie. I know that too. We heard it together. And sorry, but could you please stop peeking at my smartwatch screen?”

“Ah, uh-huh… Sorry. You had such a worried expression, I was curious about what you were thinking….”

Alice sighed, looking at Irene, whose spirit had visibly deflated. It wasn’t like she was a moody teenager, but seeing Irene get so dejected after just one remark made Alice feel a bit guilty.

‘Did I do something wrong…?’

Irene had always been a bit odd, but she seemed to have gotten even stranger after Lee Hoyeon stayed in France for two weeks.

‘When on earth are those people arriving?’

She looked up at the sky in frustration, but couldn’t sense any aircraft. In the quiet atmosphere, Alice carefully spoke.

“… Unnie. Shall we sleep together today?”

“Really?!”

“No, I’ll reconsider.”

“Huh, Alice… what’s wrong….”

“The people we were waiting for have arrived.”

Alice lifted her head and looked at the sky. Covering her face with her hand, she narrowed her eyes and gazed into the distance. Though not yet visible to the eye, Alice’s subtle senses detected magic. A moment later, a small dot appeared in the distant sky.